Dimmer



J. M. WADDELL.

DIMMER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16,1920- 1,422,393. Patented uly 11, 1922.

311mm 1-1'01; JohnMWaddeH STATES JOHN M. WADDELL, or ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA.

DIMMER.

1 App1icat1on filed July 16,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. WADDELL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Alexandria, in the parish of Rapides, State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and i more especially to headlights for motor vehicles; and the object of the same is to produce an improved dimmer which can be made as an attachment to the ordinary lamp box or as part of a specially constructed box.

The primary feature of the invention consists in using a series of nestedand concentric sleeves preferably frusto-conical or flaring toward the front, for diverting or breaking up the beams of light as they are projected by the parabolic or other reflector of the lamp-box.

A secondary feature of the invention is the provision of a group or series of slats or plates disposed in parallelism with each other and preferably forward of the sleeves, and whose function when the plates stand vertical is to prevent side glare, although it is possible to turn the group so that they will occupy other planes.

Details of the preferred construction of this dimmer as built for. application to an ordinary lamp or as housed within its own lamp box shell, are set forth below and shown in the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the simplest type of this invention, showing the shell containing the nested sleeves as applied to the front of an ordinary lamp box whose lens and its collar have been moved forward.

Figure 2 is a similar sectional view of the invention as built into-a'special shell of its own, this view illustrating the addition of a group of plates.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

The ordinary lamp box B contains a reflector R and a'lamp L and is suitably supported as indicated at -S, and the lens or glass G is usually mounted within a frame or collar 6' movably or removably connected with the front of the box. In what might be Specification of Letters Patent. Pat t l 1922.

1920. Serial No. ssaazs.

called the simplest form ofl this (invention, I provide a cylindrical shell 1 having its rear end enlarged into a mouth 2 to engage the front of the box B after its collar has been re moved, and the collar C is to be slipped onto the front end of the shell. In other words, the lens is taken off and moved forward and the device constituting my improved dimmer is inserted. between .the box and the lens frame. As seen in Figure 1, the shell is only of sufiicient length to contain a group of the nested sleeves yet to be described, but it is quite possible that it could be longer so as to contain both the sleeves and the group of plates as shown in Figure 2. In the latter view the box B contains the lamp L and is supported suitably at S, but the wall of the box itself is elongated to form the shell 1, and the lens or glass G is mounted within a frame or collar C and attached to the front end of the shell. Obviously this view shows a specially constructed and axially elongated box or shell, whereas Figure 1 shows the invention as applied to a lamp already built. V. e

Mounted within the shell is a split band,

shown-in Figure 3 as comprising an upper "shoe 3 and a lower shoe 4: although the details and 7; and supported by these wires is, a

group of nested sleeves, shown herein as includin coaxial cones 8 8 and 8 and a central cone or plug 9. The sleeves should be equally spaced, preferably three-quarters or seven-eighths of an inch from each other, they should flare forward as shown, and preferably they are frusto-conical and of such length that the smaller end of an outer sleeve is of the same size as or smaller than the larger end of the next inner sleeve. The cen-' tral or axial element or plug9 may be cylindrical as shown in Figure 2 or conical as shown at 9 in Figure 1, but its largest diameter should coincide with the smaller end of the innermost sleeve 8 which surrounds it. The result is that all rays of light thrown forward by the reflector on lines strictly parsimilar color to prevent glare. The obvious result of the use of this device is to deflect the forwardly projected rays of light and cause them to diverge from the projected axis of the lamp, and as no direct beam is visible from the front, the lamp is effectively dimmed. .That is to say, no direct beam proceeding from the reflector is visible from the front of the lamp by reason of the fact that the frusto-conical elements comprisingthe divergently deflecting member are of such a length and are constructed on'such a flare or radial expansion from their rear ends toward their front ends, and are radially spaced at such intervals that no rays of light projected on parallel lines which are parallel with the common axis of the said frustoconical elements can pass through the member unobstructed. The deflecting member serves to interrupt all rays of light proceedingfrom the interior of the lamp on lines parallelwith the common axis of the conical elements, whether they proceed directly from the source of light or proceed from the reflector. Obviously, certain rays oflight emanating fromthe source on forwardly divergent lines corresponding or nearly corresponding with the forwardly divergent angles of the spaces between the conical elements are free to pass through the member.

without obstruction or interference, but the angles of flare or deflection of the conical members and particularly of the innermost conical member which intercepts the directly forward rays of light proceeding from'the source, is such as to cause these unobstructed or uninterrupted rays proceeding from the source to penetrate an angular, space or zone which bounds or is outside of a zone directly in front of the lamp of an area which is ample to accommodate an approaching vehicle on the road, so that such vehicle with its occupants is in a zone of diffused light involving no glare which can serve to interfere with the view of the driver of such approaching ve hicle. In other words, such direct or unobstructed or uninterrupted rays of light as can proceed from the lamp are divergent or are confined to a marginal area of an inner radial extent sufficient to entirely protect the driver of-the approaching vehicle and permit the latter to proceed in a central protected zone of half-light or diffused light which complies strictly with the traffic requirements as they are .more or less universally enforced. Those rays of light which leave the lam dlrectly and unobstructed or uninterrupted are, therefore, harmless with the advantage that those which project laterally and down- ,warly serve to clearly define the road surface and its lateral limits for the benefit of the driver of the vehicle equipped with the improved lamp. The supporting'band is intended to be frictionally mounted within the shell, and may be adjusted forward or backward to produce the best results. In other words, by adjusting the divergently deflecting member rearwardly, the central protectby a forward adjustment of the said member within the lamp shell, this protected zone may be reduced in area or diameter to that which is sufficient to protect the a proaching vehicle while affording a su ciency of concentration of the light to serve as a guide for the driverof the equipped vehicle. I

The construction shown in Figure 2 adds to the element above described another element which may be successfully employed Where the shell has sufficient depth and where the light is very strong. This consists of a group of parallel plates herein shown as six in number and increasing in width from the sides inward as indicated at 10, 11, and 12. \Vhile it is of course possible to mount this element on a support of its own, I have shown it in Figure 2 as supported by the sleeve element, the rear edges of the plates being soldered or otherwise secured to the front ends of the sleeves where they intersect at the points 13. These plates are from one and one-half to two inches in width, and as long as possible to permit their insertion in the shell when they are spaced from each other about the same distance as the sleeves are spaced. By preference the plates stand in parallel vertical planes as seen in Figure 3, and in this position they prevent lateral or side glare. If this element'is mounted in a band of its own it may be individually adjusted within the shell, but when the plates are attached to the sleeves as herein shown, they may be adjusted b turning the entire structure and slipping the band 3-4 within the shell. Not only isitpossible to adjust the plates forward and backward', but the group may be adjusted by. turning them around the axis of the lamp so as to cause them to stand horizontal which would prevent divergence of the rays upward and downward, or in any intermediate position between vertical and horizontal. -The function of these plates is to s'erve as a grid so as to split up the light which passes through the sleeves which by their shape may cause slight divergence of the rays, the grid of plates finally preventing divergence of such rays in one plane but permitting it in a plane requirements of all kinds. As above sug gested, the primary element is the group of nested sleeves which may answer in most cases. I The secondary element is the group of parallel plates whi'ch'may be required in some cases. It is possible to permit the purchaser to make his own selection, or it is possible for him to purchase both elements and use them singly or collectively as desired. No modification in the lamp box, the lamp,or its support is necessary.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In a headlight for vehicles, the combination with a reflector and light source, of a light deflecting member placed in front of the reflector and comprising concentrically arranged frusto-conical elements with their edges lying substantially in the same vertical planes, the inner edge of each element being in overlapping relation with the outer edge of the enclosed element, and a grid comprising forWaI'dly directed parallel plates carried at the front end of the deflecting member, said member having means for allowing it to be moved forwardly and rearwardly with relation to the light source and for rotary adjustment about thecommon axis of the frusto-conical elements. a

2. In a headlight for vehicles, the combination with a reflector and a light source, of a light deflecting member comprising concentrically arranged frusto-conical elements with their edges lying substantially in the same vertical planes, a grid comprising forwardly directed parallel plates carried at the front end of the deflectlng member, and a band secured to and arranged concentrically outward of the deflecting member for slidable movement longitudinally in the headlight toward and away from the light source and rotary movement about the axis of the deflecting member.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN M. WADDELL.

Witnesses GRACE WADDELL, K. HUNDLEY. 

